Capitol Connection: March 21, 2014
Colorado Budget Forecast
The quarterly economic forecast was released Tuesday. CAR is tracking 11 bills that have been stalled in Appropriations waiting for the release of this forecast. While this report is showing some growth, not every tax incentive bill that has been introduced in the Legislature will have funding. It is still unclear how the Legislature will prioritize these bills; however, we will know more what this priority list looks like after the Long Bill, the Colorado Budget Bill, is debated next week. To view the full report, click here. For recent media coverage on this, click here.
2014 Session Midpoint
We are halfway through the 2014 Legislative Session, and there is still much more to come. About 470 bills have been introduced this session, and it is predicted that there will be approximately 50 “late bills” or bills that have been approved by the Senate President or Speaker of the House for introduction after the deadlines. Bills targeting the business community that have been long discussed for introduction but not introduced include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Construction defects;
- Restrictions on oil-and-gas fracking;
- Workers’ compensation changes; and
- Telecommunications reform and rural access to broadband.
CAR will be following closely any introduced construction defects legislation. We will keep you posted on these topics when and if the legislation is introduced.
HB 1125 HOA Publish Member Info with Permission
HB14-1125, Concerning the circumstances under which a unit owners’ association may disclose contact information for members and residents under the “Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act”, passed the Senate on 3rd Reading and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. Current law prohibits a Home Owners Association (HOA) from sharing the personal contact information of members or residents in a common interest community. This bill permits an HOA to publish members’ and residents’ contact information, provided the person gives the HOA prior written consent. CAR supports this legislation, and we are pleased to see it make its way through the process.
REGISTER TODAY for the CAR Mid-Session Legislative Update Webcast
REALTORS® are hard at work every day promoting home ownership and protecting your interests at our State Capitol. Join us for a review of the critical issues having an impact on the real estate industry this Spring. The webcast is being held Wednesday, March 26th at 9AM. To register, click here.
Register Now for REALTOR® Party Convention
NAR’s Midyear Meetings have been renamed the “REALTOR® Party Convention and Trade Expo”. Registration—which is free for members—is now open for the REALTOR® Party Convention & Trade Expo May 12-17, 2014, in Washington, D.C. For registration or more details, click here.
GRAB THE APP! Download the REALTOR® Action Center Mobile App
The REALTOR® Action Center mobile app is now available for download for the iPhone and DROID. Simply search for NAR Action Center in your respective app markets. This app is designed to help members Vote, Act and Invest on the go. It will help you increase your state and local Federal Call for Action participation rates, allow members a quick and efficient way to invest in RPAC, and provide you a way to track your REALTOR® Party activities and so much more.
